SSD/Maplewood Richmond Heights
March 2022
Dear MRH Families,
Your feedback about special education services in MRH is appreciated. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is conducting a survey to solicit your input. The survey is anonymous. We will receive a summary of the results to help us as we continue to work toward providing better and better services.
I encourage you to make your voice heard. A link to the survey is on the MRH website: https://www.mrhschools.net/Page/1. Locate the District News section to find more details about how to participate in the survey.
Respectfully,
Ben Gleason
Lead Special Education Coordinator
Save the Date! MRH Parent Workshop
This in person workshop will be held here in MRH. Watch for more details and an opportunity to RSVP.
Upcoming
March 17- End of 3rd quarter
March 18- No School/Professional Development day
March 21-25- No School/Spring Break
April 5- Early Release day
April 13- Parent/Family Workshop on social & emotional learning in the home
Summer Resources, Workshops, and Community Resources
THE SUMMER RESOURCE PACKET IS HERE!
Get tips and tricks to making this your child’s best summer yet.
To access The Summer Resource Packet, click here: PEDA 2022 Summer Resource Packet
To access the YouTube Video of our recent Summer Resource Fair, click here: https://youtu.be/VVeYDiL8ykM
Virtual Workshop: Meeting your child’s needs using Charting the LifeCourse Tools in the IEP process
When: Tue, March 15, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Description: Your child’s school Individual Education Plan (IEP) can be intimidating and overwhelming at times. Find out how to utilize LifeCourse Tools to help prepare and communicate effectively with your child’s IEP team to determine the most successful goals and interventions to help your child reach their potential.
To register for this workshop, click here: https://SSDPEDA.as.me/CTLCwithSTLARC
The Family Resource Hub –
Youth Mental Health Training for Families – Google link: https://forms.gle/28CzBcceYgadDhJk6
Assistance for families who may have challenges accessing the FREE Covid Tests
The SSD Parent Education and Diversity Awareness department would love your feedback!
Please complete the PEDA Communications survey here: PEDA Survey
Virtual Lunch and Learn
Representatives from community organizations will participate to increase awareness about their agency and make connections with those in our SSD community who may benefit from their programs and services.
Organizations represented in the Lunch & Learn series include:
· St. Louis ARC – April 6
· St. Louis County Library – May 4
Each event is held virtually through YouTube Live and will remain on our channel for future viewing.Health and Wellness- Practicing Screen-time Hygiene
You might have heard the term "sleep hygiene", which means "having both a bedroom environment and daily routines that promote consistent, uninterrupted sleep" according to sleephygiene.org.
The same logic of creating environments, routines, and boundaries to promote health and wellbeing can be applied to those little rectangular devices we are so easily glued to throughout the day: our screens.
Most notably, studies show that excessive screen-time significantly increases the risk for clinical depression in adolescents. Additionally, excessive screen-time increases risks for obesity, insufficient sleep, behavior problems, delays in language and social skills development, violence, and attention problems according to the Mayo Clinic. More recently, experts have found that excessive screen-time also interferes with the development of creativity in young minds.
In light of the harmful risks of too much time on our phones, Ipads, computers, and TV's, it is crucial to practice screen-time hygiene and take back control of our kids' mental and physical health, their brain development, and their overall well-being. But if we want our kids to take this seriously, we adults need to take this seriously as well. These practices don't solely benefit kids!
Here are some tips for creating healthy screen environments, routines, and boundaries:
· Limit screen time on phones using parental controls or a "screentime passcode" (available on Iphones) to limit how long your child (or yourself!) can use specific apps. This feature can also create "downtimes", such as before / during bedtime, where only essential apps can be accessed.
· Keep screens out of your or your child's bedroom and consider requiring devices be charged in a different room at night.
· Eliminate background TV
· Create tech-free zones or times, such as during mealtime or one night a week.
· Encourage unplugged, unstructured playtime.
In the digitally-crazed world we live in, these types of practices may seem unrealistic. But if we can take one small step in the right direction, we will find that it is not only possible, but liberating.
My hope is that you and your children can join me in a journey towards freedom from the ever-tightening grips of our screens. Your family's health is worth it!
For more information for screen-time hygiene, please visit:
MRH Parent Advisory Council
The MRH Parent Advisory Council offers an opportunity to connect with other parents of students with disabilities and to learn about topics of interest. Please contact MRH parent Mrs. Kim Gifford if you are interested in participating.
Special School District of St. Louis County
Email: bagleason@ssdmo.org
Website: www.ssdmo.org
Location: 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314.989.8100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo
Twitter: @SSDDStLCo
Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District
Website: https://www.mrhschools.net/
Location: 2650 South Hanley Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314-644-4400